Greetings,

Not from Mississippi, but not ashamed at all to say I LIVE HERE AND LIKE IT!!

I've been searching for a truck for awhile and I musta drove every road in Pearl River County looking for someone's "lawn ornament" that could be had on the cheap. I had found one that had caught my eye. While my Taurus is a great underated car, staying brand loyal was not a requirement. I had found a 1985 Chevrolet C-10, but even in my grand vision, it was simply too rotted out to even think of being a worthwhile project. Next up was a 1990 GMC C-1500 that was found off of craigslist.com. Great truck, only thing it needed was....to run. Diagnosed it to bad fuel injectors. Sinmply didn't have the $$$'s to get 'em, and then there is the ughknown of what else may be array.

Sooo...just down the road a few miles from my house I had seen a blue 80's something shortbed. That night after leaving the non-running truck in Gulfport, I knocked on the front door and ended up getting it for a mere $600.00.

So far, all that I have done to it has been cosmetic only, short of an oil/filter/wiper change/tune-up. More info on the truck itself can be found here:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ssissippi.html

The interior is mostly complete. I installed the headliner last week and all the interior plastic is back in its place. All that I'm needing now to complete it is the carpet and a drivers door panel. (Doors are gonna be replaced anway)
Also, added a sliding rear window from my favorite yard (Barry's U-Pull It, in Gulfport)

But the coolest thing is that my $600.00 investment has not required any maintainance to be road-worthy. While it may be cosmetically challenged, it's very much a solid foundation to begin with and I've no intentions of parting with it anytime soon. And, I'm getting a very respectable 17.6 mpg!

So, I ended up getting a terrific deal, got to add another blue oval in the fleet. In the first 'graph I mentioned brand loyalty. I've always liked the 73-87 Chevy/GMC trucks, preferred, but not *required* another Ford.

I've got a four-wheeler that up until recently was my money pit. Don't ride it as much as I used to, as the truck is getting the majority of my free-time.

Surely everyone has heard the song "City of New Orleans" by Arlo Guthrie, but, in my opinion, the better version recorded by Smokin Willie Nelson. I work with Amtrak on that train going back and forth to Chicago. Occasionally, I'll be on our other train, "The Crescent" that goes from N'awlins to New York City and return.

Rotted door pillars on the Chevy, no rust on the Ford, other than the tailgate

 

That's a decent looking truck for the money, I especially like the gas mileage. I need to find something like that.
Again, welcome to the chapter.

 

I like the Arlo Guthrie version best.

 

Little bit here, lil' more there, and soon you've got a project goin'.

Good work & keep it up.

 

Time and money and that thing will be right. Wish I could find one in that shape. I miss Barrys u pull it......used to live in McHenry Ms. and the junk I drove kept me searching for parts. good luck on the build

 

Thanx to all the compliments this far. I just relocated back here from spending four years in Southaven and know all of Desoto, Tate, Tunica, and the entire Memphis metro area quite well.

Most recent pictures: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ll-w-pics.html

 

Actually know where there is one available. A near carbon copy of mine in a beige/sand color. 86 F-150, SB, 300 CI w/4 sp/OD. Solid, but with no tailgate. $300.00 - $400.00 would probably get it.

A lil ways from ya though in Picayune.